Childhood obesity - a personal matter

Just a quick follow up to my last blog.  You might be wondering how it went with my friend.  It was a sensitive subject but she admitted that she was also worrying about her weight.

She shared with me that she had signed her up for soccer and was trying to find more active play for her to enjoy.  Great start, I thought.  It is important to get them moving because often, this accompanied with eating habit improvements, can get them moving in the right direction.  They are growing and that means that their body is burning a lot of calories naturally.

She told me she does not have junk food in the house.  Great! I thought.  But then I remembered that she had some kind of nachos chips in hand.  She then went on to share that she let her have "junk foods" as a treat when she would do her chores or get her homework done on time. (Using food as a reward is a common mistake that most of us parents have made.  I know I did too before I knew better- so no judgment here)

She also told me that she put her on a diet.  Now I am worried.  I wondered, are you singling her out?  Is she on a "diet" but no one else is on a "diet".  What diet do you have her on?  because she still needs calories and a well balanced meal because she is growing and especially her brain. 

I am worried about her self-esteem.  That is an important consideration on how you deal with childhood obesity.  Body image and self esteem.  It is not about your body size, it is about being healthy so you can do all the wonderful things you want to do.  

I really recommended that she see a dietitian that specializes in overweight children so that a trained professional will be able to guide her in making changes as a family.  

At this point, she wasn't ready to go to the doctors to try and get a consult.  Ok. Let's start with some basics, we printed out a food chart and she is going to write down their foods for a week.  She is going to also write down her afterschool physical activity, if any.

We agreed to look at it together next week so we can begin making one or two simple goals with her as part of the conversation.  I also emphasized that this needed to be a family change so she did not feel singled out.

Next step would be meeting with the child so we can include her in the conversation.

Nourish Thought for the Day:  

Sometimes, you just have to start at the beginning with the basics!

Childhood Obesity Resources and Tips for Parents articles

Parents’ Guide - What Is BMI Score

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a child's weight and height that helps determine body fat. Article that explains how a child's BMI is calculated and what that might indicate about a child's weight status.

Calculate Your Child’s BMI-for-age Percentile

As a parent, you may want to know what your child's BMI score. We have a quick and easy tool that will do all the calculations for you. Calculate your child's BMI-for-age Percentile score.

Childhood Obesity Information For Families

Childhood obesity is now a significant concern in the United States and across many other countries around the world. Learn more about the health and economic concern surrounding childhood obesity.

Childhood Obesity Prevention- Parental Information - A Healthy Guide

Tips for parents with overweight children. How to know if your child is overweight and initial steps toward helping your child move towards a healthy weight.

Health Risks for Children Who Are Overweight

Our nurses have looked at some of the recent studies and trends from credible health organizations and studies. A comprehensive list of the health risks and complications associated with childhood obesity. 

Does My Child Need To Lose Weight?

Helping a child lose weight does not have to be a painful experience. We believe that nutrition can be fun and is most important for kids trying to lose weight. Tips for parents trying to help their child lose weight.

Why You Should Not Put Your Child on a Fad Diet

Managing your child’s weight as a family tips, Say NO to fad diets for children and YES to small steps and healthy eating habits for the whole family. Quick guidelines for eating a healthy diet for helping your overweight child. 

Guide To Helping Overweight Children Eat Healthier Foods

If your child is overweight, they will need to make changes to the eating habits. It is important that your child does not feel singled out from the family’s routine. This article has parenting tips to help guide parents in changing eating habits. 

Childhood Obesity And Increasing Daily Exercise

Exercise is a key ingredient to helping overweight children lose weight. Key stratagies to helping your child increase their activity level using positive messaging and supportive tactics.

Childhood Obesity Rates By Individual States

Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health reports each year on the status of our children in the United States. It tracks the rate of childhood obesity not only nationally but also by individual states. See how your state ranks. 

Reports and Resources for Child Health Providers

Are you concerned about childhood obesity? Are you looking for more resources? Here is a guide of some of the best resources we have found worldwide.